Town at home in Checkatrade Trophy

Shrewsbury Town have been handed a home draw against Blackpool in the last-16 of the Checkatrade Trophy.

Town came back from a goal down to beat local rivals Port Vale 2-1 and will now play League One rivals Blackpool who beat Mansfield Town on penalties.

The game is set to take place on the week commencing 8th January, but details will be announced in due course.

Shrewsbury Boss Paul Hurst is pleased to have been handed a home draw.

“My understand is that it will be played after that West Ham game, so you want to cut down on the travelling as much as possible”, Hurst said.

“In terms of the opposition it’s not an easy game but you wouldn’t really expect it to be at this stage in the competition, but at the same time had we drawn a Lincoln, who are in the league below, they are a very good team as well.

“I don’t think there was much to pick in terms of the opposition we could have faced, so more pleased than anything by the fact that it is at home.”

Town are now just three rounds away from Wembley and Hurst admits the competition is starting to get exciting.

“You very quickly get to this point”, Paul continued.

“I made the mistake of thinking it was a two-leg semi-final but reading about it the other day it’s just the one-leg and whoever gets drawn at home, so it’s even quicker and the players have to understand that.

“Fans-wise it’s difficult for them because it’s another home draw on the back of the West Ham game, which we know everyone will want to attend if possible but I’d like to get a few fans in for our game against Blackpool as well to make home advantage count.”